Natural Winter Remedies: Astragalus

Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus), which has been used for centuries in Traditional Chinese Medicine, may help to strengthen the body against illness when used over time.

How to use: Take astragalus in tincture or capsule form throughout the cold and flu season. You can also incorporate dried astragalus slices into soups or rice; remove the astragalus before serving.

Natural Winter Remedies: Thyme

Loaded with antibacterial compounds, fresh or dried thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is a cold-season powerhouse.

How to use: Use fresh or dried thyme in stews and soups. To make a steam, pour near-boiling water into a pot. Add a pinch of fresh or dried thyme, turn off heat, and create a tent by draping a towel over your head and the pot. Breathe in steam for five minutes.

Natural Winter Remedies: Slippery elm

A sore-throat soother extraordinaire, slippery elm (Ulmus rubra) products are high in "mucilage," a substance that coats the throat and helps relieve coughs.

How to use: Look for slippery elm lozenges and follow package directions. To make a tea, simmer 1 tablespoon dried slippery elm bark per cup of water; strain and drink.

Natural Winter Remedies: Elderflower

The flower form of the elder plant (Sambucus nigra) can induce sweating, which may help reduce fever.

How to use: Look for elder in cold formulas. To make a tea, pour boiling water over a teaspoon of dried elderflower. Steep 10 to 15 minutes, then strain. Drink up to three cups per day. Or make a tea that combines elder, echinacea, and a pinch of peppermint.

Natural Winter Remedies: Ginger

A cup of tea made with ginger (Zingiber officinale) can help ease congestion and warm the body, which helps your system fight infection. Its anti-inflammatory properties make it a good sore-throat remedy, too.

How to use: Simmer fresh or dried ginger for 20 minutes; strain and add a touch of honey and a squeeze of lemon, if desired. Incorporate ginger liberally into stir-fries and soups.

Natural Winter Remedies: Goldenseal

For short-term use only, goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) can help to clear up bacterial infections and restore the respiratory system lining after a bad cold.

How to use: Goldenseal is very bitter, so stick to tinctures or capsules. Use small doses of this potent herb. Safety note: Pregnant women and those with hypertension should not use goldenseal.

Natural Winter Remedies: Elderberry

The classic form for elderberry (Sambucus nigra) is a tasty syrup: European studies have shown it to be helpful for seasonal flus (talk to your doctor before using it for H1N1, or swine flu).

How to use: Follow package directions for the syrup at the first sign of symptoms.

Natural Winter Remedies: Echinacea

A go-to herb for colds, this plant (Echinacea purpurea and E. angustifolia) may help support your immune system to fight viruses. The root, leaves, and flowers are all medicinal.

How to use: Take 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of tincture (herbal extract) every two hours until symptoms are gone. Echinacea also comes in tea blends.

Natural Mood Boosters-Hawthorn

Though mainly studied as a heart-health herb, hawthorn can help to ease broken hearts, too, along with mild depression and anxiety.

Hawthorn is available in tincture and capsule form, but it also makes a delicious tea. Simmer the berries for 20 minutes; strain and drink.

Natural Mood Boosters-Oat Tops

The milky tops of the oat plant, which contain B vitamins and minerals, can soothe stress and boost moods.

Oat Tops makes a wonderful tea; follow instructions for lemon balm, above. Also works as a mood- and skin-soothing bath; brew a strong tea and add to water.

Natural Mood Boosters-Lemon Balm

This member of the mint family is both calming and uplifting, making it useful for easing day-to-day stress, insomnia, and the winter blues.

Lemon balm is delicious in tea form; pour boiling water over fresh or dried leaves, let steep for 20 minutes. Drink a few cups daily. Or combine lemon balm with oat tops.

Natural Mood Boosters-St. John's Wort

Shown in studies to ease depression, St. John's wort may also be helpful for seasonal affective disorder.

Try St. John's wort in tincture or capsule form; for depression, be sure you're working with a health-care professional. St. John's wort may interact with certain drugs; discuss with your doctor.

Russian Scientists Find Third Generation of Hamsters Sterilized by GM Soy

Hot off the press GMO research study shows alarming birth defects, sterility, and infant deaths in animals fed this food commonly found in human diets. Why has this food been dumped in the EU, yet not in the US?

Closely tied to the production of GM crops is the use of the herbicide Roundup, which contains glyphosate. Monsanto’s Roundup is the most widely used herbicide in the world, and contrary to the popular belief propagated by industry, pesticide use has significantly increased – DOUBLED since 2005 -- rather than decreased with the use of GM crops.

Why we should we should care about on-farm conservation and water quality.

Recently, The New York Times ran an editorial that caught my eye, called “Tiles, Farmers and the Dead Zone”. The article correctly depicts the oxygen-depleted dead zone that forms each year in the Gulf of Mexico, killing off fish, shrimp and other marine life; and cites new research in the Journal of Environmental Quality. Read more about the Dead Zone here

Neem for Skincare

Neem, an ancient herb from India, which is known just for its medicinal qualities, is now showing up in beauty-care products including oils, creams, and soaps. It's thought that the antioxidant and antibacterial properties help skin repair itself from exposure to sun and environmental toxins.

Omega-3 Vital for Younger Skin

High strength Omega 3. Omega 3 is vital for younger looking skin as you get older and works with vitamin C and E to boost collagen and moisturize your skin from within. Take 500-1000 mg/day.

Vitamin E for Anti-Aging

Vitamin E is a key anti-aging vitamin that protects the skin and other cell structures in your body from free radical damage. Some researchers believe that vitamin E is the most important of all the anti aging antioxidants – the master vitamin. Nutritionists estimate that over 95% of Americans have a diet providing below the recommended dieatary level of vitamin E- recommendation is 100 mg/day.

Supplements for Anti-Aging Skin

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is extremely effective as an antioxidant, your natural defense against free radicals, which are unstable molecules that age the skin, resulting from environmental pollutants, smoking, or excess sun exposure. Vitamin C neutralizes volatile reactions caused by free radicals that damage skin and will help prevent and reduce wrinkles. Take 1000 mg/day.

Organic farming is safer for our children

Before a baby is even born, the toxic risk from pesticides has already begun. Studies show that infants are exposed to hundreds of harmful chemicals in utero. Instead of harmful chemicals, organic farmers use methods like composting, crop rotation and interplanting to control weeds and pests, replenish the soil and sustain the health of our planet for the next generation. Visit EdibleNature for Organic Baby Clothes and Baby Products

Organic farming reduces toxic load

When you buy organically farmed products, you help prevent soil erosion, save the energy it takes to produce synthetic fertilizers, protect the health of farm workers and help keep the carcinogens found in most herbicides and pesticides out of our water systems as well as the food we eat. Buying organic food promotes a less toxic environment for all beings.

Organic Food Tastes Better!

Studies are beginning to show what we eaters have known all along - organic food tastes better! When plants are grown in well-balanced soils in harmony with nature, they produce nourishing, delicious food for people and animals.

STOP Big Polluters - No on Prop 26 & Prop 23

Prop 26 is Prop 23's evil twin; another harmful, deceptive initiative funded by big polluters, which would make it virtually impossible for the state to impose fees on these polluting industries — fees that California needs to enforce our global warming law

Cream for Nightime

Collagen Night Cream

Before bed, use a cream rich in antioxidants, such as green tea, soy, or grapeseed extract. While the body sleeps, the skin restores itself. Thicker than moisturizer, a night cream rich in antioxidants will help skin defend against smoke, sun, smog, and age. These stressors cause skin to produce free radicals (oxidants) that attack collagen; and when collagen breaks down, wrinkles and sagging result. Antioxidants such as jojoba leaf and vitamins A, C, and E battle those free radicals before they can do damage.

Sunblock for Great Skin

Protect with sunblock-Nobody wants the side effects of too much sun -- wrinkles, moles, age spots, not to mention skin cancer. Protecting skin against UVA and UVB rays is the foundation of great skin care. A sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher that contains Mexoryl SX or stabilized avobenzone because they defend against both wrinkle-accelerating UVA rays and sunburn-causing UVBs.  Some moisturizers contain sunscreen for daily use, but be sure to apply full protection sunscreen when you go outdoors.

Moisturize for Great Skin

Hydrate with moisturizer (even if you think you have oily skin)-Our daily habits (long days, sleep debts, frequent washing) deplete sebum, skin's natural moisture lock. That protective layer of oil holds in moisture and prevents irritation. Without it, skin becomes vulnerable to damage.

Serums With Botanicals for Great Skin

Apply an anti-inflammatory serum to nourish skin deep down-Stress and fatigue can lead to puffy skin and a blotchy complexion. Calm redness and blemishes with serums and gels that contain extracts of anti-inflammatory herbs like chamomile, calendula, and lavender. Seek out serums with a wealth of organic botanicals, not just a dusting. (Ingredients appear in descending order based on amount present.)

5 Steps to Great Skin

Skin care gets a little more complicated every year. New products tout "never-before-seen" benefits, while the ingredient du jour earns top billing as the next "beauty breakthrough." With these 5 steps to natural skincare, you can be sure you're getting the essentials.

• Start with a gentle exfoliant, rather than a harsh soap, to cleanse-As skin regenerates, dead cells compromise luster and clog pores. Derived from plant and milk sugars, alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) slough skin without harsh scrubbing.
  

Natural Pantry Staple - Vino!

A little bit of wine can add complexity -- not to mention antioxidants -- to sauce or desserts. Fruity reds (Pinot Noir and Zinfandel) are natural partners for duck and beef, while fragrant whites (Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling) work with lighter, herby fish and chicken dishes.

Natural Pantry Staple - Green Tea

Not just for an antioxidant-rich beverage anymore! Green Tea can be used for desserts, like green-tea gelato. It also makes a light, herbal marinade. Brew a pot, let it cool, then soak fish or chicken in the liquid before cooking.

Sea Salt - Natural Pantry Staple

Naturally evaporated, sea salt has more minerals and flavor than processed table salt. It adheres better to food than table salt, which means you need less to get the same flavor kick.

Natural Pantry Staple - Legumes

Chickpeas, black beans, lentils, and kidney beans all offer plenty of fiber and folate, which help strengthen your heart.

Nuts for the Natural Pantry

When it comes to nutrition, nuts like almonds (high in calcium, magnesium, and fiber), walnuts (packed with omega-3 fatty acids), pecans (full of vitamins B6 and E), and pine nuts (one of the best sources of protein in the nut family) rank at the top of the list.

Spices for the Natural Pantry

Spices such as ginger (great for digestion and the immune system), saffron (a heart-healthy antioxidant), and paprika (an anti-inflammatory) can transform a bland meal into something extraordinary. To increase your spice intake, try a curry blend (typically a combination of turmeric, coriander, cinnamon, cumin, and paprika, among others), which promotes perspiration and increases metabolism.

Starve Cancer-Improve Your Nutrition!

New research indicates that preventing cancer cell growth can be as simple as eating the right foods. Improve your nutrition know-how. Fill up on the following foods that starve cancer. Boy Choy, Cooked Tomatoes, Flounder, Strawberries, & Artichokes - yum-o!

Dried Herbs - Natural Pantry Staple

For those times when you can't get fresh herbs, keep dried thyme, sage, and oregano on hand to boost the flavor of nearly any dish. To maximize dried herbs' potential, don't skimp on price, and replace every four to six months.

Natural Pantry Staple - Chili Peppers

While chile peppers might not replace your morning OJ anytime soon, they have up to six times as much vitamin C as oranges, plus plenty of vitamins A and B. Capsaicin, the compound that makes chiles taste hot, reduces pain and stimulates circulation.

Frozen Fruit-Natural Pantry Staple

While fresh clearly has the advantage when it comes to taste, fruits like blueberries, strawberries, and mangoes remain antioxidant powerhouses even when frozen.

Natural Pantry Staple - Organic Tomatoes

In most cases, the fresher the vegetable, the healthier it is. Tomatoes are the exception. Your body can absorb more lycopene from the canned kind than from fresh uncooked ones; lycopene reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and some cancers.

Natural Pantry Staple - Organic Citrus

Zest has the added benefit of enhancing digestive energy, relieving intestinal gas and swelling, and decongesting the lungs. Lemon peel seasoning can also add a nice zest to your favorite meat, chicken and pasta dishes!

Natural Pantry Staple - Garlic

This superfood inhibits 72 known infectious agents, including those that cause the common cold. Garlic also protects against ulcers and may help eliminate metals, such as lead, from the body. A cornerstone of many cuisines, it's also great on its own, roasted and spread on warm bread.

Safe Travels & Happy Tummy!

As you're wandering the globe this season, steer clear of food-borne illness by getting your daily fill of garlic (in food or capsule form) and probiotics (through yogurt or acidophilus supplements). Garlic provides antibacterial action, and probiotics build up your gut's beneficial bugs to counter harmful bacteria. If you do end up with a queasy stomach, taking an activated-charcoal supplement can help absorb the toxins and restore your digestive health.

Hangover Helper

If you've partied too hard, replace the lost nutrients and restore your energy by taking 100 milligrams of a B-complex vitamin and drinking plenty of water.

Muscle Magic - Arnica to the Rescue!

Whether it's the result of an all-out workout or a long day of play, muscle soreness will subside sooner with the right rubs and balms. Choose natural muscle rubs that contain menthol and eucalyptus, shown to possess anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties in a 2003 study.

Homeopathic arnica can speed healing as well: Take five pellets of arnica (at 30C strength) three times a day to reduce pain, swelling, and bruising. Arnica works wonders - also look for arnica creams!

Treat Cuts & Scrapes Naturally

Keep a calendula-based salve or cream in your backpack to prevent infection of cuts and scrapes suffered out on the trails. Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, bee propolis spray or tincture also staves off infection when applied four times daily.

Summer Skin Savers

When sticky weather brings on a heat rash, cool off with a lavender essential oil and aloe vera fusion. Try mixing a half-ounce of aloe vera gel with five drops of oil and applying it to the skin. The mixture is anti-inflammatory, so it reduces the redness and heat of the rash. Massaging in some calendula salve can have a similar hydrating, calming effect.

Post Picnic Relief

Indulged in one too many servings of ambrosia salad? Unburden your belly by drinking a cup of chamomile tea (iced if you prefer) or chewing on fennel seeds. Both natural remedies act as carminatives to aid digestion and dispel gas from the stomach.

Sunburn Soothers

With its anti-inflammatory effects, aloe vera is your best salve for sunburn pain. Squeeze the amino-acid-rich gel directly from the plant, or apply a product containing 95 percent to 100 percent pure aloe vera, says Stengler. For a skin-cooling soak, combine a cup of powdered milk with 10 drops of lavender essential oil, says aromatherapist Constance Hart. Shake the ingredients in a jar and let sit for a day before pouring into lukewarm bath water.

Summer Skincare - Protect Your Skin

We all know we need to wear and SPF of 30 or higher - but did you know you also need to apply about a shot glass full of sunscreen to get complete coverage?

When purchasing sunscreen, check the ingredients list for zinc oxide, a shield against both UVA an UVB rays. Once you're out of the sun, rub in some borage oil, a rich source of gamma-linoeic fatty acid, to help protect against sun-related aging.

Aura Cacia Wins Award!

Aura Cacia organic lavender essential oil has won one of Organic Products Retailer’s
second annual Stellar Organic Awards. OPR conducted a survey with its organic retailer
readers, and they chose our organic lavender essential oil as their favorite.

Natural Bug Spray

Make your own DEET-free repellent by blending five drops of patchouli essential oil, 2 ounces of witch hazel, and eight to 10 drops of cedarwood essential oil in a spray bottle. Find all your discount essential oils at EdibleNature.com

Beat Summer Allergies

Seek out a natural antihistamine such as quercetin, a type of antioxidant found in onions and citrus fruits. Available in supplement form, 1,000 milligrams of quercetin taken three times daily throughout the season should help you stay symptom-free.

Natural Bee & Sting Remedy

Natural remedies like clay, baking soda, lavender oil, plantain, and tobacco contain properties that fight against pesky summer insects. To treat bee stings and mosquito bites, apply a paste made from baking soda and water to neutralize the bug's venom. Take five pellets of homeopathic apis (at 30C strength) three times daily until the itchiness subsides. And a drop of lavender essential oil applied to the bite can take out the itch and sting.

Summer Travel - Reset Your Clock

If you change time zones you can reset your body clock by taking 1 to 3 milligrams of melatonin -- a hormone that regulates your sleep-wake cycle -- 30 minutes before bedtime. When you wake up, look at the sun for 10 minutes. This will send a message to the part of the brain that coordinates the body's rhythms through changes in lighting detected by the eyes.

Summer Travel - Stress Rescue

In the Air: Try a Stress Rescue with Bach Rescue Remedy -- the famous flower-essence drops -- improves the body's ability to handle stress and strengthen its natural energy reserves. Restoring emotional vitality, Rescue Energy is all natural, non narcotic, and non habit forming.

Summer Travel - Go Pro!

Probiotics boost good bacteria in the gut. If you're worried about stomach problems, take them every day while you're on the road. Immunity boosters may help fend off illnesses created by travel stress.

Boost Your Immunity

Vitamin C helps strengthen the immune system. Vitamin C is one of the most well researched vitamins that supports your immune system. So to keep your immune system revved up this fall, be sure to take enough vitamin C.

Diabetes & Vitamin D

Studies have shown the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the general population to be around 36 percent. But the prevalence among diabetic subjects is so much higher — almost 200 percent higher — that a link between diabetes and vitamin D look likely.  Have you tried these dissolvable Vitamin D Dots-no pills to swallow :-)

Get Energized

B vitamins provide a natural energy boost. How? Vitamins of the B complex help breakdown foods into energy. This is where the energy boost comes from. Kapow! B vitamins are needed every day to keep you healthy, so replenish them often.

Replenish Electrolytes

People often know they need electrolytes in the heat of summer. But your body’s need for electrolytes doesn’t stop when fall begins. Electrolytes aid in rehydration, so get plenty of them all year.  Try Emergen-C ElectroMIX - it's the ideal addition to virtually any beverage, providing the electrolytes your body needs.

Revitalize on a scorching summer day with a spritz of this refreshing herbal spray. This one’s good for oily skin, which can feel especially overactive on a hot day.

• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons (total) of any of the following: nettle leaf, parsley leaf, peppermint, rose flowers and petals, rosemary leaf, sage leaf, yarrow

Boil water, then pour over 1 tablespoon of the herbs. Steep for 20 minutes, then strain. Combine with the vinegar and place in a spray bottle. Store in the refrigerator, to keep fresh and for extra vim!

Herbs on Ice - Summer Teas

For nourishing refreshment, nothing quenches better—or is easier to prepare—than herbal iced tea.  Make your own with the help of the sun. Use your favorite herbs alone or in combination. Drink them plain or sweetened, or mixed with juices, sparkling waters, or natural sodas.

Citrus Hibiscus - This colorful beverage brings a vacation on the beach to mind.
1 tsp. peppermint 2 cups water
1 tsp. rosehips 1 cup orange juice
1 tsp. orange peel 1 cup cold sparkling water
2 tsp. hibiscus 2 Tbsp. honey (or to taste)
2 tsp. lemongrass

Steep peppermint, rosehips, orange peel, hibiscus, and lemongrass in the two cups of water. Strain. Add orange juice and refrigerate. When ready to serve, pour over ice cubes and add a splash of sparkling water to each glass. Sweeten if desired.  Find ready to steep teas and use the natural steeping power of the sun
http://www.ediblenature.com/store/c/33644-Herbal-Tea.html

Grilling Good Times This 4th

Who doesn't love a good grilled burger while watching fireworks?  This Fourth of July why not mix-it up a bit and try some grilled pork chops to really wow your family and friends...

GRILLED CALYPSO PORK CHOPS


Ingredients
4  boneless pork loin chops, about 1/4 lb. each (organic preferably)
2/3 cup chicken stock
1/3 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon plus 1 tsp dark rum (optional)
1 tablespoon plus 1 tsp lime juice
1 tablespoon plus 1 tsp brown sugar
1  clove garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

Directions-Prepare grill. Combine all ingredients in a heavy, sealable plastic bag. Seal bag and marinate in refrigerator 4 to 24 hours. Remove chops from marinade, discarding leftover marinade. Grill chops for 10-12 minutes over indirect heat on covered grill, turning once to brown both sides.

Sunburn Sigh

Herbs can be very soothing to skin that’s been overexposed to the sun. The chamomile and witch hazel in this
recipe are soothing and cooling, and the green tea is full of anti-oxidants. Test your remedy before applying it all
over, though, because not everyone reacts to every herb the same way.

• 1/2 cup water
• 1 tablespoon chamomile owers
• 1 tablespoon witch hazel leaf or green tea

Make an infusion (strong tea) of chamomile and witch hazel or chamomile and green tea by pouring the water over the herbs and steeping for about 20 minutes. Strain and cool, then dab on burned skin, or add to bath water.

Invaders Invading Your kitchen?

Place whole bay leaves on your pantry shelves to keep invaders out of your grains.  Dried mullein was once used in barns to keep mice away from grains. Try it, or peppermint, in your pantry.

Summer Herb Solutions

Sprinkle catnip, pennyroyal, or peppermint in your kitchen cupboards (or behind cabinets) to discourage ants and other kitchen-crawling insects. You might even leave a trail of herbs across an especially problem-atic kitchen counter.  Find herbs here: http://www.ediblenature.com/store/c/34052-Holistic-Craft-Herbs.html

Keep Cool with Summer Home Energy Tips

Unplug small appliances whenever you can. Computers, cell phone chargers, and other electronics often continue to use power -- and radiate heat -- even when turned off. To simplify, plug items into a power strip that you can use as a master switch.

Summers Here!

The Summer Soltice signifies a rise in temperatures and usually energy costs.  To conserve energy this summer set programmable thermostats to kick in half an hour before you return home (unless you have heat-sensitive indoor pets). Cranking the thermostat to penguin-worthy temperatures won't cool the house faster, since AC works at full throttle until a set temperature is reached. With every degree you lower it, cooling costs increase by about 7 percent.

Tylenol Recall Broadens

A Tylenol recall issued last year by the Johnson & Johnson unit of McNeil Consumer Healthcare because of chemical contamination has been expanded for a second time to include Benadryl Allergy Ultratablets and Extra Strength Tylenol.

Self Tanner for a Safe "Tan"

Kiss My Face Self Tanner is Non-Streaking and Quick Drying. Get a light tan in seconds and a deeper color in four hours. The beauty of this year-round self-tanner is that it allows you to see where and how it's been applied, which prevents streaking and gives instant color. pH balanced and 100% biodegradable.

Summer Skin Care - Protect Your Lips

Thin-skinned and lacking oil glands, lips benefit from balms that prevent summertime dehydration and UV burning. Don't leave the house without a protective balm with SPF, and replenish parched lips after a long day in the sun with a creamy, moisturizing formula.

DIY Coffee Zest Body Scrub

DIY Coffee Zest Body Scrub

1/2 cup used coffee grounds
1/2 cup honey
1 Tbsp. fresh orange zest

Mix ingredients together in a container and rub mixture into skin with your hands or a washcloth, using upward strokes, for one to three minutes. Apply up to three times a week.

DIY Oatmeal-Lavender Face Scrub

DIY Oatmeal-Lavender Face Scrub

1 cup ground oatmeal
1/2 cup dry lavender flowers, stripped of stalks
1/2 cup powdered milk (either whole or nonfat)
2 tsp. cornmeal

Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl, massage into damp skin, and rinse with warm water. (Scrub will keep for six months.)

Spring Skin Exfoliation

Spring is the perfect time to exfoliate post-winter skin which is usually overly dry and scaly after months of low humidity and those overheated homes and offices. Exfoliation kick-starts your skin's renewal system, removing dead cells and uncovering the fresher skin that's waiting underneath. So buff, scrub, and peel your way to a smoother summer with the season's best remedies, both handmade and high-tech.

Arm Yourself with Arnica

Homeopathic creams, gels, and ointments that contain arnica, a flower similar to the daisy, have long been used to relieve swelling and bruising. Rub into the affected area, but stop using if you develop skin irritation.